Carton taping machine



April 1957 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 2,787,396

CARTON TAPING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 0d ZJikar Ckm' szerzss m,

April 2, 1957 o. w. CHRISTENSSON CARTON TAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1955 A ril 2, 1957 o. w. CHRISTENS'SON 8 CARTON TAPING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1955 s Shee tS-Sheet 3 'I/VVE/VZOR 60! MM 6'12 rilsten son by A lZl/erman zm/la'a.

April 2, 1957 Filed May 27, 1955 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 2,787,396

CARTON TAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 y dl'luerman Mali/z.

April 2, 1957 Filed May 27, 1955 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 2,787,396

CARTON TAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 xii/Vernal: A Mia/[17L April 2, 1957 o. w. CHRISTENSSON CARTON TAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 27, 1955 mfl 6 U M M 0mm 7 r h 8 f wd d b United States Patent 70 CARTON TAPING MACHINE d W. Christensson, Stockholm, Sweden Application May 27, 1955, Serial No. 511,714

14 Claims. (Cl. 216-25) This invention relates to mechanical automatic container-sealing mechanisms and more particularly to machines which seal containers, such as cartons, cases, boxes and packages, by applying adhesive tapes to seal the flaps or covers and to adhere said sealed flaps or covers to the body of the carton.

In recent years the advantages of sealing cartons by the application of adhesive tape, have been recognized by the trade to the extent that numerous attempts have been made to furnish automatic equipment for applying such tape. Obviously the presently used manual method of application is economically unsatisfactory. Moreover, dependency upon the human element in manual application does not insure uniformly satisfactory sealing.

Heretofore, however, to my knowledge none of the previously introduced machines afforded a completely satisfactory method for continuously sealing cartons by the application of adhesive tape thereto. For exam ple, in some machines the application was not continuous but merely intermittent; hence the cartons likewise could not be moved continuously but only intermittently. In other machines the length of tape could not be automatically varied in accordance with the length of the cartons to which it was to be applied. Thus only one size of carton could be fed to the machine at one time. Any change in length of the carton required stopping of the machine and manual adjustment thereof.

In other machines no provision was made for automatically preventing the feeding of a length of tape in the absence of a carton in the conveyor line. Thus it was difficult to properly maintain assembly line production. Oftentimes the feeding of a tape in the absence of a carton resulted in confusion and highly undesirable production stoppages.

In still other machines the cutting mechanisms were fully exposed and were capable of functioning only when the tape was stretched between two adjacent cartons, the cutting taking place between the cartons. Absence of a carton in the assembly line again resulted in production interruption indicating that the machine was incapable of affording the flexibility necessary in modern automation production. Moreover, the exposure of the sharp cutting blade was highly undesirable from a safety standpoint.

Prior machines were also characterized by their inability to uniformly and properly wet the tape adhesive to insure maximum adhesion. The tapes were often either insuificiently or excessively wetted, both of which resulted in unsatisfactory sealing of the cartons. Furthermore most of the prior machines were highly complex, expensive both in initial cost and in maintenance, and in many cases were excessively large and not conductive to compact, space-saving construction.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a carton taping machine which will overcome all of the disadvantages mentioned hereinabove.

2,787,396 Patented ApflZ, 1957 Another important object is to afford a taping machine comprising a pair of similar units, one of which may be used to apply tape to the top of a carton and the other of which may be used to apply tape to the bottom of a carton, either simultaneously, successively or selectively if desired. v

A further object is to provide carton taping units which may be installed and used in connection with carton gluing mechanisms, both of which units and mechanisms may be powered by a single motor. 7

Still another object is to afford a carton taping machine having rotatable tape-brush-rollers mounted on arms which protrude from the taping unit into the path of the moving carton, said brushes being mounted on pivotally mounted arms permitting movement of the brushes in directions suitable to accommodate the movement of the cartons, while simultaneously insuring satisfactory application of the tape on the leading end walls of the cartons, across the top and bottom of the cartons, and on to the trailing back walls of the cartons.

Still a further object is to afford automatic actuating and control means for feeding the tape from rolls at speeds synchronized with the movement of the cartons so that the tape is also pre-positioned in readiness for application of each successive carton and in pre-determined cut lengths as measured by the length of the carton itself. Thus each tape is of exactly the proper length for application to the particular cartons to which it is to be applied, irrespective of the variation of lengths between successive cartons.

Yet another object is to afford an automatic moistening device in the machine for controlling the amount of moistening agent (Water) contacting the adhesive surface of the tape.

Yet a further object is to afford actuating means for controlling the movement of at least one of the tapeapplying brushes, the tape-feeding mechanism, the tapecutting mechanisms, and the moistening mechanism, automatically in accordance with the passage of each carton in a continuous conveyor feeding system.

To achieve the results and functions mentioned hereinabove, the machine comprises one or more taping units having a pair of tape-applying brushes each rotatably mounted on the end of a spring-pressed arm which is in.

turn pivotally mounted for movement in an arcuate path upon the passage of the cartons therebelow or above as the case may be. Means for pivotally moving one of the brushes in and out of operational position to accommodate successive passage of cartons therebelow is also provided.

A pro-feed cam operated roller device is further provided to feed a predetermined length of tape in front of the moving cartons. Automatically operated tape-cub ting mechanisms are afforded in the machine and a geared, magnetically-actuated clutch device is provided to control the cutting mechanisms as well as the feeding mechanism. The machine is also provided with an automatic moistening device with means for controlling the amount of water applied to the adhesive surface of the tape.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a p r ed e odimen thereof, f om an .inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and apprec a Referring to the drawings in whichthe same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. l is a schematic side elevational view of the tapeapplying apparatus of a carton-sealing machine showing a carton in operational position at the beginning of the tape-applying process;

Figs. 2-8 inclusive are similar schematic drawings of the top unit of the tape-applying apparatus showing successive steps in the tape-applying process;

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of the taping units with a Side cover of the housing removed, taken substantially on the plane of line v9-9 in Fig. 19 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating a detail of construction of one of the parts shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view showing the clutch actuating mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail View of the clutch pin;

Fig. 13 is another end elevational view of a portion of the clutch mechanism;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged elevational view of some of the cam and gear assemblies;

Fig. 15 is an exploded sectional view taken on the plane of line 15-15 in Fig. 14 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the taping unit viewed from the side opposite to that of Fig. 9, taken on the plane of line 16-16 in Fig. 19 of the drawings, viewed in the direction indicated, with some walls broken away and with some of the gear elements illustrated in phantom outline for the purpose of facilitating the illustration and description of the figure;

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of a detail of construction;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail view of the gearing of the trailing tape-applying brush arm;

Fig. 19 is a sectional exploded view of the housing of one of the taping units taken on the plane of line 19-19 in Fig. 9 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary detail view of the tape-cutting mechanism and tape feeding control mechanism, as viewed from the plane of line 20-20 in Fig. 19 of the drawings;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating another detail of construction taken on the plane of line 21-21 in Fig. 22 of the drawings;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 22-22 in Fig. 20 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 23 is a front elevational view of the cutting mechanism showing a fragmentary portion of the housing in section;

Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the cutting blade detail as taken on the plane of line 24-24 in Fig. 23 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the tapewetting mechanism, as viewed from the plane of the line 25-25 in Fig. 19 of the drawings;

Fig. 26 is a front view in elevation of one of the details of the wetting mechanism;

Fig. 27 is a top plan view of-the wetting mechanism detail illustrated in Fig. 26 of the drawings;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary top plan view of another detail of the wetting mechanism;

Fig. 29 is yet another fragmentary view of another detail of the wetting mechanism; 7

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary view partially in section and p ti l yin e va i n sho g an her detail of the wettin mechanism;

Fig. 31 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the microswitch mechanism of the taping unit;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing the gearing of the leading tape-applying brush arm; and

Fig. 33 is an exploded top plan view of the tape-feeding rolls illustrating the tape-stiffening device formed thereon.

Before proceeding with the detail description of the taping mechanism illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, it should be noted that the taping unit may comprise either a separate machine or may be incorpo; rated in a carton gluing machine having means for gluing the flaps of a carton as well as applying tape to seal the same. In the latter-mentioned carton-gluing and taping machine, the two methods of carton closure may be either selectively or simultaneously practiced.

Referring now to the schematic drawings of the taping units, as illustrated in Figs. 18, attcntion is first directed to Fig. 1 in whcih a carton C is shown moving in the direction indicated by the arrow on a conveyor belt 35 between a pair of taping units designated generally by reference numerals 36 and 37. One unit 36 is positioned in spaced relationship above the belt 35 and the other, 37, is positioned below the same but aligned with the upper unit 36. As so positioned, it will readily be appreciated that the upper unit applies a length of tape to the top of the carton while simultaneously the lower unit 37 applies a similar length of tape to the bottom of the carton. However if desired, the two units may be positioned in stagered relationship so that one or the other applies the tape first to the carton.

It should further be noted that since the two units are substantially identical, only the upper unit 36 is illustrated both in the remaining schematic drawings as well as in the other figures of the drawings but solely for the purpose of facilitating the illustration and description of the machine.

It will be noted that the carton C is being moved by means of a pusher bar 38 which is positioned in spaced relationship along the entire length of the endless conveyor belt 35. It will further be noted in Fig. l of the drawings that the carton C has been pushed past a microswitch mechanism 39, the structure and function of which will be disclosed as the description proceeds. It will further be noted that the carton C is positioned so that its front end 40 abuts the ends of a pair of lengths of tape 41, the top one depending from the roll 42 of such tape and the bottom one projecting upwardly from a similar roll. It will further be noted that the two lengths of tape 41 are positioned so that they respectively depend and project along the front of the carton C only a relatively short distance from the bottom or top thereof respectively. It will further be noted that these lengths of tape 41 are being pressed against the front surface of the carton C by tape-applying roller brushes, such as 43, which are mounted on the ends of bell crank arms 44 which in turn depend or project upwardly, as the case may be, from housings such as 45 of the taping units 36 and 37.

As the pusher bar 38 pushes the carton C forward under the taping unit 36, it will be noted in Fig. 2 of the drawings that the brush arm 44 is pushed back and upwardly in a counterclockwise direction so that the brush 43 moves up on the tape 41 simultaneously smoothing the same onto the surface of the carton. As the carton C progresses still further forward beneath the taping unit, the brush arm .44 continues to pivot. forwardly and upwardly until the brush 43 has'been raised to a position where the carton C may pass directly thereunder as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Then as the carton progresses still further forwardly, the tape 41 is applied to the top and bottom of the carton, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. 1 At the same time it will be noted that serrate a rearwardly positioned roller brush 46 also mounted on a bell crank arm such as 47,'is being pivoted in a clockwise direction by hook member 48, which will be described in greater detail as the description proceeds. Thus it will be noted in Fig. 4 of the drawings that the rear brush 46 continues to be raised until, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, it is sufiiciently raised to permit the carton C to pass under it as the rotating brush smoothes onto the top of the carton, the tape which had been applied thereto by the first brush 43. It should further be noted that the raised position of the rear brush 46 is achieved before the leading edge of the carton C reaches the same.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the carton is shown as having already passed under the front brush 43, which has already been returned to its initial lowered position by spring action. It will further be noted that the tape 41 has been pre-cut so thatthe length of the same is sufficient to permit the rear segment thereof to overlap the rear top edge of the carton C. Thus in Fig. 6 of the drawings it will be perceived that the trailing edge of the carton having passed the rear brush 47, the same is being lowered, thereby brushing the trailing segment of the tape 41 down on the rear end wall 49 of the carton C.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings it will be noted that the top and bottom lengths of tape such as 41 completely seal the flaps on the top and bottom of the carton and also extend downwardly and upwardly respectively along the front and rear end surfaces of the carton a distance sulficient to afford a strong seal entirely adequate to insure against inadvertent opening of the carton. The carton C is illustrated being transferred directly from the conveyor belt 35 to a loading rack 50.

The description to this point has been concerned primarily with the tape-"applying process and has described the functioning of certain parts of the taping unit in applying the tape 41 to the carton. It should, of course, be understood that the tape 41 may be any conventional type, such as adhesive-coated paper, fabric, plastic or the like. So also the carton C is merely representative of many types, sizes and designs of cases, packages, boxes and the like.

Referring now to the other figures of the drawings, the operation and actuation of the various components of the taping units will now be described in some detail.

It should first be noted that the conveyor belt 35 is driven by synchronized driving means which may be independent of the driving means which actuates the taping unit. However, it is preferable that both be driven by a common power source (motor) having a drive shaft 51 journalled through a support bracket 52 in turn mounted to a wall 53 of the housing 45. A drive gear such as 54 drives a large gear 55 by means of a transferring gear such as 56. Various cams and gears which will be subsequently described and which control the several operations of the tape-applying units (tape-feeding mechanism, brush arm movement, tape-measuring and cutting mechanism, etc.) are likewise driven by the power shaft 51. All of the movements of the various mechanisms are synchronized with the movement of the carton C on the conveyor belt 35 so that the proper length of tape is precut and applied irrespective of any variation in the length of the carton.

Directing attention first to Fig. 19 of the drawings, it will be noted that all of the above-described mechanisms are contained in the housing 45 which comprises a central member 57, divided by a central partition plate 58. Side plates such as 59 and 60 close the sides of the housing and an outer housing member 61 may be mounted on the side plate 60 thereby affording a housing cavity 62. Withinthe main housing 57, two housing cavities 63 and 64 are provided for housing various elements of the machine. Thus much of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings is housed in the cavity 63, and may include a drive gear and cams which control the movement of taping arms. The tape feeding and cutting mechanisms, illustrated in Figs. 17, 18 and 20-24, are positioned in the housing cavity 64.

Referring now to Figs. 16 and 20 of the drawings, it will be noted that the tape 41 is fed off of the rolls 42 down through a tape guide 65 positioned in the taping unit. The feeding of the tape is controlled by a tapefeed-drive roller 66 which is movable in and out of contact with the tape by means which will subsequently be described. Adjusting screw means such as 67 may be provided for controlling the pressure of the feed roll 66 against the tape 41.

The bottom of the tape guide 65 is formed with a sharp edge, beneath which reciprocates the cutting blade 68 of the knife 69, as illustrated in Figs. 20 and 24 of the drawings. The knife 69 is spring-loaded by means of the spring 70 urging the same in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 20 so that the tape may be severed at the bottom of the tape guide 65, which may be formed with a sharp shearing edge.

As shown in Fig. 20 of the drawings, before the tape leaves the bottom of the taping unit it passes over a guide roller 71 and through a wetting mechanism such as illustrated in Figs. 25-30 of the drawings, which wets'the adhesive preparatory to its being applied to thecarton. The wetting mechanism will be described subsequently as the description proceeds.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 17 and 18 of the drawings, it should be noted that the brush 43 rotates continually in the direction indicated by the arrows so that the same smooths the tape 41 onto the carton. The rotation of the brush is achieved in the following manner.

The brush bell-crank arm 44 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 72. The shaft 72 is synchronized with, and driven by, the drive shaft 51 by means which will subsequently be disclosed. Mounted on the shaft 72 is a driven gear 73 which meshes with an intermediate gear 74 mounted on the bell crank arm 44, which in turn meshes with another gear 75 mounted on the shaft 76 which also mounts the brush 43. The driven gear 73 through the intermediate gear 74, achieves the rotation of the brush gear 75. Consequently the brush is rotated thereby in the direction indicated. It should be noted that the bell-crank arm 44 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 72 so that'it is free to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, without disrupting the above-described brush-rotation-gear-assembly. Thus as the carton C moves forward in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9 of the drawings, it pushes the brush ahead of it so that the brush mounted on bell crank arm 74 moves in an arcuate counterclockwise direction, the entire assembly moving up into the groove 78' provided in the housing plate 60. Thus the brush 43 is moved upwardly while continuously being pressed against the carton wall by spring tension, so that the tape is smoothed onto the carton, thereby covering the adjacent edges of the flaps of the carton and consequently sealing the same.

When the brush 43 has reached its highest position, the carton C will pass thereunder with the brush continuing to smooth the tape over the top of the carton. Simultaneously the cutting mechanism has been actuated so that the blade 68 severs the tape 41 to provide a length of tape suflicient to extend over the top of the case and down a short distance over the rear end thereof. To achieve this result a novel cutting mechanism and means for actuating the same is provided which will now be described in detail.

A cam 79 is securely mounted on the shaft 78 (Figs. 20

and 22) and retained thereon by a pin 77. This shaft is of adjacent a tooth 81 projecting inwardly from an arm.

82 pivotally mounted by pivot shaft 83. At the lower end ,of the arm :82is pivotally mounted a knife-arm 84 by means of a.-shaft 85. The coiled spring 70 is tensioned between shaft 85 and a projecting pin 86 formed on the partitionplate '58. Thus the arm 82 withthe projecting tooth .81,is constantly .urged against the per'ipheral surface of the cam 79 .and in the direction indicated'by the arrow. When the cam 79 is positioned so that it presents only its normal peripheral surface to thetooth 81, it should be evident that the cutting edge of theknife blade 68 is positioned in spaced relationship with the tape 41. However when the cam is rotated so that the notch 80 is aligned with the tooth 81, the tooth slipsinto the notch thereby releasing "the spring 70 to move the knife blade 68 :against the tape. This shears the tape against the sharp bottom edgeof the tape 'guide 65, as shown in .Fig. 20 of the drawings. As the cam 79 continues to rotate, .the tooth 81 rides out of the notch and the knife .68 is again displaced away from the tape. In this connection it-should be noted that a coiled spring such as 87 may be provided for urging the knife blade 68 up against the cutting edge ofthe "tape guide 65 to insure proper and instantaneous shearing action of the mechanism. It should also be noted that an adjusting device such as 87 may be provided to regulate and adjust the cutting mechanism.

After severing, the cut end of the .tape 41 will follow along after the carton during its continuous movement on the conveyor belt 35 as shown in Figs. and 6 of the drawings. The brush 43 continues to smooth the tape onto the top of the carton 'C until thecarton has passed thereunder to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. At that time the spring action returns the brush 43 and arm 44 to its lowered position, but at the same time the carton passes under the second brush 46 which is continuously rotating in the direction indicated by the :arrows in Figs. 9 .and 16 of the drawings.

The brush 46 is likewise providedwith gearing similar to the first brush arm, namely .a drivengear 88, a meshing gear 89, an intermediategear 90 and'a brush gear 91. The driven gear 88 is driven -bya sprocket chain 88 (Fig. 9) which is in turn driven by a sprocket wheel 89' mounted on the drive shaft 51. A sprocket wheel 90 may be provided adjacent the driven gear 88 to define the path of the chain 88'. A belt v92 then transmits power from driven gear 88 to drive gear 73 of the leading brush gear assembly as shown in :Fig.'16. Apositioning roller 93, spring suspendedas shown, maintains proper tension on the belt 92.

As in the first brushrarm-44, the second brush arm 47 is under spring tensionso that the arm is constantly urged downwardly in an arcuate clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. .16 of the drawings. It is obvious therefore that as :soon as the rear top edge of the carton C has passed the rotating brush 46, the brush and arm will tend to lower itself, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, permitting thebrush to smooth theend of'the tape 41 down along the rear end of 1116 carton.

Since it was mentioned hereinabove that the brush arm 47 isconstantly urged "downwardly, .it should .be evident that .means must be provided to move it back up to its raised position after it has .fulfilled the brushing function, in order to prepare the same for the next carton. This is achieved by the arm 48. As noted in Fig. 9 of the drawings, a-hook member 94 is formed at one end of the arm 48 and is'positioned to engage a .pin 95, said pin actually-comprising anextension of the intermediate gear shaft 96. The .arm 48 isformed withanangularly positioned extension arm 97, having a roller 98 mounted at the outer end thereof. This roller 98 abuts a cam -99 which is likewise mounted .on the shaft 78. The rotation of the cam 99 is synchronized with the movement of the carton C on the conveyor belt by means which will become apparent as the description proceeds. vIt will be noted that the cam 99 is provided with a ,portion .100 of larger radius and a smaller radius portion 101. It will further benotedthatthehook arm48 is;pivotally mounted on theshaft .72. Thus when theroller 98 .abuts the smaller diameter portion 101 of the zcam 9.9, the brush arm '47 is positioned in its lower position as shown .=in Fig. 9 of the drawings. However when thecam 99 :is rotated to the position where the roller 98 rides .up on the periphery of the largerradius portion 100 of the cam, the extensionarm 97 is canted, to the right, as viewedin Fig. 9 of the drawings, therebypivoting the arm 48 upwardly in a clockwise direction. .The hook end-94 mgaging the pin raises the brush arm 47 with the brush 46 attached thereto upwardly in an arcuate path and into the arcuate, bottom-opening slot 102.

The rotation of the cam .99 is synchronized in such a manner that the rear brush 46 is always moved to its raised position, as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings, before the leading edge of the carton C has been moved to a position where it abuts the brush. So also the circumferential lengths .of the cam portions and 101 are so designed'thatithe brush 46 is released while the carton C is passing thereunder'and prior to the trailing edge .of the carton having reached the brush. As the trailing edge of the carton passes the brush .46, vit drops ,down and since it is continually spring urged against the rear end of the carton,vthe brush smooths the trailing .end of the tape 41 onto the carton.

From the above description of the operation of the machine, it should beapparent that the taping unitsare designed to feed pre-cutlengths of tape synchronized with the continuous movement of the cartons on the conveyor .belt .35. This ,of course presumes :thatthe rate at which the ;cartons are ,fedinto the conveyor :belt system, is such that a carton is positioned in .front of :each pusher bar 38. Iffor some reason the'flow of cartons through the conveyor system should be momentarilyinterrupted so that a vacancy occurs .in front of one of the pusher bars, .it is apparent that the feeding :of a tape strip :at this point would be highly undesirable and totally unnecessary. To take .care of such an exigency, the .machine has been :so designed that the feeding of each strip of tape is controlled by the presence of a carton at that point. In the event that a vacancy occurs on the conveyorbelt, no strip willbe fed during the time that the vacant area is passing between the taping units. The mechanism for accomplishing thishighly desirable function willnow be described in some detail.

As was indicated'in Fig. .1 of the drawings, the microswitch device 39 'is positioned on the conveyor line 35 in spaced relationship with, and in front of the tape applying units 36 and 37. A spring-pressed, microswitchtriggering-lever 103 may be pivotally mounted at a point such as 104 on the side of the conveyor belt 35 so that it is constantly urged into the path of the cartons on the conveyor .belt. As the leading edge of the carton C approaches the trigger 103, it pushes the same aside :so that the trigger pivots, thereby moving its leading edge 105 against a pin 106 protruding from the microswitch 107. The microswitch'107 is electrically connected to solenoid 108 so that the depression of the pm 106 in the microswitch 107 energizes the solenoid 108 which in turn reciprocates a core arm 109 in the direction indicated by an arrow in .Fig. 11 of the drawings. The other end of the core arm 109 is pivotally connected as at 110 to the bottom end of a vertical leg 11 1 of a bell crank 112. The bell crank 112 is pivoted at 113, and has a horizontal arm 114 which abuts a vertically extending actuating arm 115 of a clutch member 116, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The horizontal arm 117 is of substantially half-round shape with :anarcuate surface 118 and'an undercut :flat top surface 119,:affording an edge 120 at the apex of the juncture of the fiat surface .119 with the arcuate surface 118. A bevelled surface 121 is provided by undercutting an end .segment of the arm 117, and .an outwardly ,projecting pin 122 is formed at the router vend of the arm. The operation and functioning of the clutch 116 will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to Fig. 15 of the drawings, it will be noted that a hub 123 is immovably mounted on the outer end of the shaft 78 by a pin 123. This hub is formed with an arcuate-shaped groove 124 extending transversely across the periphery of the hub until it abuts a front retaining wall 125. The retaining wall 125 is formed with a smaller groove 126 adapted to accommodate therein the pin 122, the clutch arm 117 proper being accommodated in the groove 124.

Mounted immediately behind the hub 123 is the large gear 55 which is formed on a central hub 127. The hub 127 in turn is formed with a central bore 128 which is adapted to accommodate therein the hub 123. Opening to the inner surface of the bore 128 is a transverse slot 129, the function of which will become apparent as the description proceeds. It will further be noted that the cam 99 is also formed with a central bore 130 enabling the same to be fitted over the hub 127. On the opposite side of the gear 55 another hub 131 is provided which is of somewhat larger outer diameter than the hub 127 and within which the slot 129 is formed. This hub 131 is in turn adapted to fit into another central bore 132 which in turn is formed in another cam 133, the function of which will be disclosed as the description proceeds. All of these cams and hubs are retained in telescoped relationship by means of a pair of retaining plates such as front plate 134 and rear plate 135 which are aflixed as by bolts 136 and 137 assembled respectively in threaded openings 138 formed in hub 127 and threaded openings 139 formed in hub 131.

To appreciate the functioning of the clutch device 116, it should be noted that in the absence of actuation of the solenoid 108, the shaft 78 with the hub 123 and the clutch 116 positioned therein remains stationary while the large gear wheel 55 (driven by drive shaft 51 and gears 54 and 56) and the earns 99 and 133 rotate continuously. However when the solenoid is energized by the passage of a carton on the conveyor belt to trip the microswitch 39, the bell crank 112 tilts the horizontal arm 114 out of the path of the clutch-actuating arm 115, thereby permitting a spring 140 to rotate the horizontal arm 117 of the clutch member sufiiciently to permit the edge 120 to project into the slot 129 formed in the hub 131 when the same is rotated into aligned position therewith. Thus the hub 123 is engaged, thereby causing the shaft 78 to rotate. It should be noted that the bevelled segment 121 of the clutch arm 117 affords suflicient clearance during the rotation of the clutch to avoid abutting the ungrooved portion of the wall of the bore 128.

Upon the occurrence of the aforementioned event, another cam 141 as shown in Figs. 20 and 22 of the drawings, begins to rotate with the shaft 78, thereby cooperating with tape-feeding control mechanism in a manner which will now be described.

Like the cam 99 the cam 141 is formed with a large radius portion 142 and a reduced radius portion 143. A bell crank 144 having arms 146 and 147 is pivotally mounted as at 145. To the end of the arm 146 is rotatably mounted the tape feed drive Wheel 66. A roller 148 is mounted at the end of the other arm 147 and bears against the cam 141. It Will be noted that the spring 87 urges the arm 147 with the roller 148 mounted thereon continually against the cam 141. Thus it will readily be perceived that when the roller 148 is riding on the periphery of the larger radius portion 142 of the cam 141, the tape feed roller 66 is moved out of contact with the tape 41, as shown in Fig. 20 of thedrawings. When this occurs, no tape is fed. However when the cam is rotated so that the roller 148 is free to drop down onto the periphery of the smaller radius portion 143, the tape feed roller 66 is moved into contact with the tape 41. Since the roller is constantly rotating in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 20 of the drawings, the

tape is thereby fed down through the taping unit and applied by the brushes 43 and 46 to the carton C. The ratio of the circumferential length of the reduced radius portion 143 to the larger radius portion 142 of the cam 141 and the rotation of the cam itself is so synchronized with the movement of the carton C on the conveyor belt 35, that the length of tape which is fed and cut by the cutting mechanism is such that it will be exactly sufficient to extend from a point approximately two inches down from the top along the front end of the carton, across the top thereof and then down along the back end wall of the carton a similar distance of approximately two inches. It should be noted that the cam 141 may'be made in two parts to include a complementary part 141. These parts may be rotatably adjusted with respect to each other by means of set screws such as 142' so that the ratio of the smaller radius portion 143 to the larger radius portion 142 may be varied and adjusted, thereby varying the length of the tape feeding period or the interval between feedings.

Of course the above-described tape feeding step occurs only when a carton is positioned on the conveyor belt in the space provided therefor before the pusher arm 38. In the absence of such a carton, the clutch, not being actuated by the solenoid 108 and the bell crank arm 114, does not engagethe drive gear 55 and therefore does not rotate the shaft 78 and the cam 141 mounted thereon. However when the clutch is actuated, it is rotated to present the edge in a position where it will protrude into the slot 129 at the instant when the rotation of the gear 55 moves it, the slot, into alignment with the clutch edge 120. The clutch 116 is tilted or rotated into engaging position at the instant when the leading edge of the carton hits the microswitch trigger 103. However, the shaft 78 with the tape feeding cam 141 and the tape cutting cam 79 mounted thereon does not begin to rotate until the slot 129 is rotated to a position where the clutch engaging edge 120 is aligned therewith so that it can pro- Since the rear end of the carton C is.

this is a most desirable feature enabling the machine tobe used continuously on cartons of varying lengths Without necessitating stopping of the machine to adjust it for each new box length fed into the conveyor system.

During the interval when the tape feed drive wheel 66 is moved out of contacting relationship with the tape 41, the tape might tend to be drawn back to the tape roll 42 or to drop down through the taping unit. This is especially true in the bottom unit where the force of gravity is freely exerted on the tape. To prevent this return movement of the tape, a brake such as 149 may be provided as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 of the drawings. This brake may comprise a toggle arm 150 pivotally mounted as at 151 in a bracket 152 and continually urged by a coil spring such as 153 in a direction away from the roller 66 but toward the tape, the end of the toggle arm 150 abutting the tape 41. While the feed roller 66 is feeding the tape downwardly, the arm 150 is pivoted in the direction shown in Fig. 17 which permits the tape to freely pass thereby. However, when the feed roller 66'is- In applying the 'moi'stenmg agent, 'vfiz. water, it is important that the proper amount 'betapplied, i. e. it should not be in excess and at the :same time it is important that sufiicient moistening agent should be applied to insure proper adhesion of the tape to the carton. To achieve this function, a novel wettingmechanism has been provided which is illustrated in'Figs. 25-30 of the drawings.

This wetting mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral 154, is positoined below the cutting mechanism as shown in Fig. 25 of the drawings. Basically it may comprise a water container such as a bottle 155 removably supported :in inverted position in a reservoir 15.6, which in .turn is connected by atube such as 157 to a tank 158. Within the tank 158 is rotatably positioned a roller 159 with a sponge 160 mounted thereon. The wetting sponge 160 is, of course, replaceable and is positioned so that it rotates with a bottom portion thereof submerged in the water which may partially fill the tank 158. A from upper portion thereof abuts the tape 41 as shown in Fig. 25 of the drawings. Naturally the adhesive side of the tape should face the sponge 160.

On the other side of thetape 41 may be rotatably posi toined a novel roller member 161' which affords a bearing surface for the tape opposite the point of contact by the sponge roller 160. This roller 161 is formed with a plurality of capillary spaced circumferential grooves such as 162 separated by a plurality of wider grooves such as 163. This particular design, namely the grooves 162 and 163, are provided for the purpose of collecting any excess liquid and further are helpful in regulating the amount of liquid applied to the tape. It should be apparent that the width of the tape 41 must be less than the width of the sponge 160 in order to insure that the entire adhesive surface of the tape will be wetted. Thus a certain amount of excess liquid is applied at the outer edges of the tape 41. This excess liquid is collected in the grooves 162 and carried down into the collecting trough 164. Furthermore the grooves and spaces 163 are provided for the purpose of permitting portions of thetape to bend back into the grooves and away from the sponge 160 in the event that the pressure exerted by the wetting roller 159 is excessive. Tube 157 is provided with a branch 165 so that the excess liquid collected in the trough 164 may be returned to the line 157 and subsequently returned to the wetting tank 158.

In Fig. 27 of the drawings it will be noted that a roller 166 is provided in the tank adjacent to roller 159 so that it presses against the sponge 160. This is provided for the purpose of regulating the amount of liquid in the sponge 160 by-squeezing out any excess liquid, thereby assisting in preventing excess liquid from being applied to the adhesive of the tape 41. The rollers 159 and 166 are both rotated and controlled by a novel mechanism which will now be described in some detail.

The peripheral surface of cam 133 is serrated as shown at 1167. This affords a friction surface which abuts a rubber roller 168 mounted on a shaft 169 which also has a gear 170 mounted thereon. The gear 170 is adapted to mesh with a pair of gears 171 and 172 positioned in the cavity 63 with respective shafts extending into cavity 64. ,Slot discs 171 and 172' connecting to discs 171" and 172" are mounted on the outside of the tank 158 and have drive shafts such as 173 and 174 upon which are mounted the rollers 159 and 166 respectively. Thus it will readily be perceived that the wetting roller 159 and the squeezing roller 166 are controlled by cam 133 in such a manner that they are not rotated unless tape is being fed through the units.

Wetted tape has a tendencyto curl up, thereby interfering with the application of the tape to the carton. To prevent this curling, a-tape stiffening device has been devised which will 'now be described. Referring then to Fig. 33 of the drawings it will be noted that the tape feeding .roll 66 is formed with an annular groove .175 -at-the center of the circumference thereof. A complementarilyshaped sfree roller 175' is rotatably mounted in aligned position on the opposite side of the tape 41. This wheel is formed with'an annular protruding rib 176 adapted to mesh with the. groove '175. As the feed roll 66 rotates against the rolleri175,-the tape 41 thcrebetweeniscreased as at 177 thereby stiffening the same and preventing it from curling.

In describing the operation of the tape-feeding and entting mechanism hereinabove, it was stated that the cams 79 and 141 were actuated or rotated only when the shaft 8 was rotated. It can, therefore, be appreciated that it .is important that this shaft rotates only when the clutch is actuated. Obviously a certain amount of inertia might cause the shaft to .rotate even after the clutch has been disengaged. To prevent such rotation, a stop wheel 180 may be secured on the shaft 78 by means of a pm 181. This stop wheel 180 rotates directly beneath a pointed stop pin 182 mountedlina housing 183 affixed to the partition plate 58. The stop pin .182 is spring-urged downwardly and is adapted to fit into a notch 184 formed in the periphery of the wheel 180. Thus when the shaft 78 has been uncoupled from the drive wheel 55, the spring urges the pointed pin .182 down with sufiicient force to stop the rotation of the .wheel and the shaft attached thereto as soon as the notch 184 is rotated into alignment therewith. The spring is so rated that it is not-sufficiently strong to prevent the rotation of the shaft 78 when the same is coupled to the driving mechanism of the machine.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings that I have provided an improved machine for sealingcartons and the like by the automatic mechanical application of lengths of tape applied in such a manner that they join together the adjacent edges of the flaps of the carton in dust-proof sealed relationship and also secure the flaps to the end walls of the containers. This is accomplished by adhering a length of tape extending from a point approximately four inches from the top and/or bottom on the end wall of the carton, extending entirely'across the top and/or the bottom of the carton, and then extending down or up, as the case maybe, a distance of approximately four inches on the rear end wall of the carton. The taping units are adapted to be used in combination with a flap gluing rnachine or may be used independently thereof. The machine is further designed to accomplish its sealing functions while the cartons are being moved continuously and automatically as by the continuous conveyor belt. Means are provided in the machine for severing the tape in varying lengths as dictated by the length of the carton itself. Thus each carton is provided witha tape which is exactly the correct length for the carton to which it is to be applied. No manual adjustment is required to vary the lengths of tape in accordance with the lengths of the cartons. The taping units may be so mounted in the carton sealing machine that they may be moved vertically to accommodate varying heights of cartons by simple manual means. Tape feeding means is further provided, which is controlled by the presence or absence of a carton in its allotted space in the conveyor belt. If a vacancy should occur on the conveyor belt, no tape will be fed. Simple but effective and sturdy clutch means are provided for automatically coupling or uncoupling certain of the actuating means for performing some of the various functions of the machine as governed by the presence or absence of a carton on the conveyor belt allotted space and for timing the tape feeding and cutting mechanisms in accordance with the length of carton to be taped. Novel wetting means is also provided for wetting the adhesive on the tape and for controlling the degree of wetting to insure maximum adhesion of the tape to'the carton.

It is believedthat my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifestthat while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown 13 and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a carton taping machine of the character described; at least one taping unit mounted adjacent conveyor means for continuously moving cartons having closure flaps in spaced relationship past said unit, said unit having means for mechanically feeding a length of adhesive tape so that the end thereof projects into the path of said carton, means for applying said tape to the carton whereby said flaps are sealed together and the sealed flaps are adhered to the front and rear end walls of the carton, said first-mentioned means remaining inoperative in the absence of a properly positioned carton, tape cutting means, and means for mechanically actuating said tape cutting means to afford varying lengths of tape as determined by the length of the carton to be taped, said means for applying said tape including a plurality of rotating brushes positioned to mechanically press and smooth the tape against the leading end of the carton, around the corners and over the adjacent edges of the flaps and against the trailing end of the carton.

2. The carton taping machine of claim 1 in which said brushes are mounted on spring-pressed arms, gear means mounted on said arms for transmitting power to rotate said brushes, and said arms pivotally movable in arcuate paths to accommodate the passage of the carton and follow the path of application of the tape to the carton without interrupting the transmission of power to the brushes.

3. The carton taping machine in claim 2 in which said arms are positioned in aligned spaced relationship along the path of the conveyor means, and means for withdrawing the trailing one of said arms from the path of the next succeeding carton on the conveyor after the same has completed the operation of applying the tape to the trailing end of the preceding carton.

4. The carton taping machine of claim 3 in which said last-mentioned means comprises a pivotally-mounted bell-crank hook member, one end of said hook member engaging said brush arm, and a cam rotatable to periodically pivot said hook-member whereby to withdraw said brush arm from the carton path, the rotation of said cam controlled by means synchronized with the movement of the carton on the conveyor.

5. The carton taping machine of claim 4 in which the periphery of said cam is formed with a large radius segment and a small radius segment and a roller is mounted in one end of the bell-crank member, said member biased to spring urge said roller into abutment with the periphery of said cam.

6. The carton taping machine of claim 1 in which said tape feeding means is controlled by cam actuating means, said cam actuating means in turn being synchronized with the movement of the carton on the conveyor.

7. The carton taping machine of claim 6 in which said tape feeding means comprises, a pivotally mounted bell-crank having two arms angularly disposed one to the other, a rotatable tape-feeding wheel mounted on the end of one of said arms, a roller mounted on the end of the other arm, said cam actuating means mounted on a shaft, said roller spring-urged against the periphery of said earn, the rotation of said shaft controlled by means responsive to the presence of a properly positioned carton on the conveyor, said cam designed to intermittently pivot said tape-feeding wheel into operative contact with a tape extending into the tape unit from a continuous source of supply.

8. The carton taping machine of claim 7 in which said cam is provided with a larger radius periphery and a smaller radius periphery, the position of said peripheries in respect to said roller controlling the movement of said tape-feeding wheel.

9. The carton taping machine of claim 7 in which a driven gear is rotatably mounted on said cam shaft and clutch means is provided for coupling said cam shaft to said driven wheel.

10. The carton taping machine of claim 9 in which said clutch means is controlled by magnetic actuating means, said last-mentioned means in turn energized by the passage of a carton over switch means positioned on said conveyor, whereby the absence of a carton from the provided position on said conveyor prevents the feeding of tape through the taping unit.

11. The carton taping machine of claim 12 characterized by cutting means positioned within the unit, said cutting means adapted to cut the tape into lengths proportional to the length of the carton to which it is to be applied.

12. The carton taping machine of claim 11 in which said cutting means comprises a cutting blade mounted on the end of an arm adjacent the tape, said blade and arm disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tape, the other end of said arm connected to the lower end of a pivoted actuating arm, said actuating arm having means adapted to reciprocate said blade against the tape to sever the same.

13. The carton taping machine of claim 12 in which said last-mentioned means comprises a tooth positioned intermediately on said actuating arm, said tooth and actuating arm being spring-urged against the periphery of a rotating cam, said cam having a notch formed in the periphery thereof, the seating of said tooth in said notch causing the severing reciprocation of the cutting blade.

14. The carton taping machine of claim 13 in which said cam is mounted on a shaft, the rotation of said shaft being controlled by a magnetic clutch responsive to a microswitch positioned in the path of the cartons on said conveyor whereby the intervals between cutting reciprocation of said blade and consequently of the lengths of tape out are determined by the length of the carton passing said microswitch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,619 Oslund June 16, 1931 2,052,883 Kucklinsky Sept. 1, 1936 2,052,903 Stagmeier Sept. 1, 1936 2,199,033 Strauss Apr. 30, 1940 2,346,142 Anderson Apr. 11, 1944 2,538,520 Holt et al. Jan. 16, 1951 2,575,887 Nitchie Nov. 20, 1951 2,604,825 Sieg July 29, 1952 

